Personal Injury

Representative Cases

Personal Injury / Wrongful Death

Resolved a case arising from an automobile accident which resulted in claims of injuries requiring surgery and lifetime care and, consequently, high alleged damages. Defendant admitted liability but challenged the source and extent of claimed injuries.

Motor Vehicle Accident involving a truck and a sedan with assertion of low impact limited damages.

Mediation between a former employee of a large store that was part of a national chain and her employer as parties in an unlimited civil action pending in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Plaintiff’s allegations arose from her discovery that photographs she sent to another employee showing her in various stages of nudity were allegedly being shown to numerous other store employees. Her allegations included claims of retaliation and hostile work environment, allegedly as a consequence of her reporting of the incident to management.

Decedent fell down stairs alleged to have been negligently maintained by the owner of a building. Medical bills that exceeded coverage by several times complicated the negotiation, but the matter ultimately was settled by the mediator.

Settled matter pending in the Los Angeles Superior Court alleging product liability, premises liability, negligence, personal injury, and punitive damages arising out of injury to a minor in a pediatrician waiting room. Parents alleged to have witnessed their minor child be “impaled” by an unreasonably maintained arcade game containing unsafe protruding parts. Punitive damages allegations were alleged as part of allegations that the physician did not treat the child’s injury. Defendants’ defense alleged the injury to the child and the parents was without any evidence of treatment and thus very minor. Defendants also alleged that the parents’ conduct was a contributing factor in the injury as the parents should not have left a toddler in front a game intended for older children. Defendants also supported their defense by producing records that the injury was minor and the physician properly referred the parents to the emergency room. The entire matter was settled by mediation.

Successful mediation of a personal injury matter pending in the Superior Court, County of Los Angeles. Plaintiff’s claims arose from an automobile accident. Defendant was a corporation suspended by the Secretary of State. Plaintiff’s treating orthopedic surgeon recommended treatment that resulted in the matter being assigned to the Special Investigations Unit.

Successful mediation of a dispute that was the subject of a pending unlimited civil case pending in the Superior Court, County of Los Angeles. Plaintiff, a healthy woman with a full-time job in the retail industry slipped and fell on wet stairs in an office building. It had been raining and the entrance and stairs did not have a slip guard to protect against the rain water being brought in by visitors to the building. The entrance and stairs were made of smooth tile. The Defendant alleged that Plaintiff bore some responsibility for the fall and that Plaintiff’s inability to fully return to her position at a crafts store was due to the declining market in retail. The fact that mediation took place early in the case and before costs of litigation were incurred was helpful in reaching a settlement both sides agreed was satisfactory as well as fair.

Matter pending in the Superior Court of California in the County of Los Angeles arising from an automobile accident in which automobile that collided with Plaintiff’s car was owned by the Defendant business and was being driven by an operator of that business in the course and scope of her business duties. An independent witness and law enforcement officer placed the cause of the collision with Defendant business driver for running a red light and driving at excessive speed.

Pending arbitration arising from a hit and run traffic collision in which Claimant was driving a passenger in his capacity as a Transport Network Company driver at the time of the collision that was caused by the other driver who fled the scene of the accident. Respondent Transportation Company challenged Claimant’s medical treatment expenses alleging claimant’s subsequent car accident caused his injuries. Respondent relied upon Claimant’s vehicle odometer readings to dispute loss of earnings claims.

Personal injury matter pending in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles arising from an automobile accident. Plaintiff suffered serious injuries as a result of being rear-ended by Defendant. Failure to settle within policy limits created issue of alleged open policy.

Personal injury matter pending in the Superior Court, County of Los Angeles complicated by the fact that vehicles involved in the collision recorded electronic crash data conflicting with the drivers’ sworn testimony. Electronic data recorded failure of owner of one vehicle to wear seat belt and the failure of the second driver to stop at the intersection governed by a stop sign. The drivers disputed their vehicle’s recordings and testified at their depositions to have worn their seat belts and stopped at the intersection. Deployment of the air bag in the Plaintiff’s vehicle presented issues further complicating the matter as follows:
o Plaintiff disputed Defendant’s claim that air bag deployment was the primary cause of Plaintiff’s serious injury and
o Plaintiff disputed Defendant’s claim that the seat belt recording deployed air bag.

Personal injury matter litigated as SIU case by defendant.

Pending matter in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Central Civil Unlimited Jurisdiction Court where plaintiff alleged that she sustained third degree burns on her face and contracted a staph infection which escalated to herpes. Plaintiff alleged that she engaged defendant spa to wax her face and was subjected to extremely hot wax, which gave her third degree burns on her face. She also alleged that once burned, she was infected by dirty towels and equipment, leading to a staph infection and ultimately a herpes infection. She claimed her medical diagnosis and prognosis has left her with the prospect of a life long disease that leaves her disfigured and requiring anti-biotic drugs on a consistent basis. Defendant alleged that plaintiff’s burns and subsequent infections were not as severe as alleged and the alleged negligence leading to the infections were not the sole cause of plaintiff’s injuries. Defense alleged that plaintiff’s smoking and general poor health had been the primary reason for plaintiff’s consistent infections.

Plaintiff had a pending action in the Los Angeles Superior Court claiming catastrophic injuries as a result of being rear-ended while stopped at a red light.

Successful mediation of claim arising out of collision of tractor trailer with yard truck hauling chassis at yard in Port of Los Angeles.

Successful mediation of matter pending trial as a long cause case in the Superior Court, County of Los Angeles, Central District arising from the collision between a law enforcement agency patrol vehicle being driven by a deputy responding to an emergency call and plaintiff’s vehicle. Patrol vehicle collided with plaintiff’s vehicle at 65 miles per hour mid-intersection while being driven in response to an emergency call with siren and overhead lights activated. Plaintiff claimed that he did not see the patrol car nor hear the siren before being hit. Plaintiff’s injuries were substantial. An independent witness stated that the light was green for the plaintiff at the time of the collision.

Catastrophic injury to nonagenarian who was knocked to the ground by a shopping cart being pushed by a shopper whose visibility was reduced by a large box containing a large appliance placed in the child seat of the shopping cart. The store and customer who struck plaintiff were co-defendants. The co-defendants blamed each other. The customer pushing the cart claimed the national store did not have a protocol for customers to carry large items in carts to the register, and the store claimed the customer should not have pushed the cart knowing that her visibility was blocked. Plaintiff’s damages included two surgeries when the first surgery resulted in the screws placed in her hip to become displaced, requiring a second procedure. The matter was successfully mediated.

Pending matter in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Central Civil Unlimited Jurisdiction Court where plaintiff alleged that she sustained third degree burns on her face and contracted a staph infection which escalated to herpes. Plaintiff alleged that she engaged defendant spa to wax her face and was subjected to extremely hot wax, which gave her third degree burns on her face. She also alleged that once burned, she was infected by dirty towels and equipment, leading to a staph infection and ultimately a herpes infection. She claimed her medical diagnosis and prognosis has left her with the prospect of a life long disease that leaves her disfigured and requiring anti-biotic drugs on a consistent basis. Defendant alleged that plaintiff’s burns and subsequent infections were not as severe as alleged and the alleged negligence leading to the infections were not the sole cause of plaintiff’s injuries. Defense alleged that plaintiff’s smoking and general poor health had been the primary reason for plaintiff’s consistent infections.

Plaintiff had a pending action in the Los Angeles Superior Court claiming catastrophic injuries as a result of being rear-ended while stopped at a red light.

Successful mediation of claim arising out of collision of tractor trailer with yard truck hauling chassis at yard in Port of Los Angeles.

Successful mediation of matter pending trial as a long cause case in the Superior Court, County of Los Angeles, Central District arising from the collision between a law enforcement agency patrol vehicle being driven by a deputy responding to an emergency call and plaintiff’s vehicle. Patrol vehicle collided with plaintiff’s vehicle at 65 miles per hour mid-intersection while being driven in response to an emergency call with siren and overhead lights activated. Plaintiff claimed that he did not see the patrol car nor hear the siren before being hit. Plaintiff’s injuries were substantial. An independent witness stated that the light was green for the plaintiff at the time of the collision.

Personal injury matter litigated as SIU case by defendant.

Plaintiff was returning his rented car at LAX Airport and was pinned between two cars when getting luggage out of the trunk, and a rental company employee moved the car in reverse. Plaintiff had a prior injury to the same knee injured in this accident. Defendant car rental company disputed the extent of the injury. Matter resolved.

Action by Plaintiff alleging injury as a result of collision with fire department emergency vehicle. Complicated issues include:
o Fire department policy and compliance of requirements regarding lights and sirens on emergency calls
o Driver’s duty to comply with Vehicle Code in evasive measures
o Medical expenses of half a million dollars alleged by egg shell plaintiff
o Force of impact
o Report of investigating law enforcement agency as to fault

Matter involving an automobile accident in which plaintiff was broadsided as he drove through a large intersection and as a result rolled over three times. Plaintiff and Defendant each claimed to have had a green light, claiming the other’s was a red light.

Successful mediation of a case pending in an unlimited jurisdiction trial court in the Los Angeles Superior Court, Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Plaintiffs brought an action alleging they suffered personal injury as a result of being involved in an automobile vs. automobile collision. Liability and the extent of damages were disputed by the defendant driver who was making a left turn. Defendant argued that plaintiffs were in the vehicle that was being driven at a high rate of speed by one of the three plaintiffs in the automobile. Injuries were alleged to be significant, including evidence of the defendant’s independent medical examiner’s opinion that one of the plaintiffs required joint replacement surgery. Defendant presented defense that plaintiffs failed to mitigate their damages. The entire matter settled in the mediation.

Dispute involving plaintiff’s allegations that, as a result of false accusations of misconduct and harassment, he sustained damages from defamation, intentional interference with contractual relations, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, negligent interference with prospective economic advantage, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

Dispute regarding the extent of damages in a matter wherein the government agency stipulated to liability for a traffic accident involving its employee. Plaintiff alleged that her injuries included a tear of the triangular fibrocortilage complex at the prestyloid recess to her dominant wrist, a 5 mm disc protrusion at L4-L5 with an annular tear, and a 6 mm disc protrusion at L5-S1 with an annular tear. Plaintiff alleged that she was permanently prevented from working in her occupation of 20 years that required extensive use of her hands, arms, and wrist. Defendant disputed the permanent nature of her injuries, and alleged that the limitations from her injuries were not permanently catastrophic.

Dispute regarding allegations of wrongful death of family member against physician who had performed weight reduction surgery on deceased.

Dispute regarding allegations of wrongful death by wife and minor children of construction worker against public entity for death at a construction site on public property.

Dispute alleging dependent care abuse and wrongful death by family members against assisted living facility.

Dispute regarding allegations of wrongful death by parents of minor child against hospital, alleging failure to properly diagnose, resulting in death.

Dispute regarding allegations of wrongful death by parents of child against physician and hospital after the child was brought in for emergency treatment three times in 72 hours.

Dispute regarding allegations of wrongful death by spouse and children of supermarket shopper who reached for an item on the top shelf of a sales rack, and suffered a fatal head injury.

Dispute regarding allegations of wrongful death and products liability brought by the family of a construction worker against the manufacturer of a nail gun, alleging that the absence of a safety on the trigger resulted in the fatal accidental firing of a nail into the deceased at a construction site.

Dispute regarding wrongful death of a dependent adult by the family of resident in assisted living facility, alleging failure to properly monitor at mealtime, resulting in fatal injury from choking on food.

Dispute regarding allegations of wrongful death brought by family members against driver and owner of vehicle, in which the deceased was a passenger who suffered a fatal injury in an accident wherein the driver was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence.

Dispute regarding allegations of wrongful death by the family of a shopper who slipped when using an escalator in a shopping mall, and who sustained a fatal head injury.

Dispute regarding allegations of wrongful death against the driver of an automobile that struck a bicycle rider, who sustained a fatal injury as a result of the collision.

Dispute regarding allegations of wrongful death of wife, mother, and minor child, who sustained fatal injuries when they were crossing the street and were struck by a car, the driver of which was thereafter arrested for reckless driving and for driving at an excessive rate of speed.

Assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress arising from dispute at a deposition. Cross-complaint for assault, battery, and negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Plaintiff represented defendant at a deposition, and defendant attacked plaintiff during a break.